Dynamo make early exit again

For the second consecutive year, the Houston Dynamo came to the Lowcountry of South Carolina and started primarily a team of reserves, and for the second consecutive year it cost them an early exit from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

After Steve Wondolowski scored a last-gasp equalizer for Houston following a Marco Reda goal that had given the Charleston Battery a first-half lead, the nine-man USL First Division side hung on to a penalty shootout, which they won 4-3 to take the third round Open Cup match. Charleston will take on the winner of the Dallas FC-Miami match next Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup.

Charleston dominated the possession and the play for most of the first half. The Battery got the first quality scoring chance in the 22nd minute when defender John Wilson made a strong run down the field. Lazo Alavanja got the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and flicked it over to Wilson, who came storming down the middle of the field into the area.

Wilson's shot, however, bounced off the side of the net. Three minutes later, Alavanja had another excellent scoring chance. Chris Williams served a ball into the box that Randi Patterson slid over to Alavanja, who pivoted and blasted a shot on goal that Houston goalkeeper Tony Caig stopped.

Charleston finally grabbed a 1-0 lead on Reda's header in the 31st minute off a set piece. After Houston defender Erik Ustruck grabbed the shirt of Charleston midfielder Stephen Armstrong, the Battery were awarded a free kick from about 30 yards out. Charleston midfielder Osvaldo Alonso curled a ball into the box that midfielder Ian Fuller headed to Reda in the six-yard box. Reda easily beat Caig for the score. The Dynamo came out in the second half much stronger, dominating the ball for the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Houston got its best chance to score in the 54th minute after a scramble inside the penalty area. The ball bounced around the box for several seconds with Houston striker Franco Caraccio ending up with possession. With Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock out of the net, Caraccio tried to chip the ball into the open goal, but Armstrong was there on the line to clear the ball.

The Battery had another glorious chance to score in the 68th minute off another set piece. Again it was Alonso who curled a ball into the six-yard box, and again it was Reda who got on the other end of the kick. Reda's half-volley, however, hit the top of the crossbar to end the threat. The Battery were forced to play the final 16 minutes of regulation a man down after midfielder Chris Corcoran was given a red card for a hard tackle on Chris Wondolowski.

Houston nearly tied the game in the 76th minute off a near own goal by the Battery. Houston defender Geoff Cameron made a strong run into the Battery's penalty area. Caraccio then took a shot that bounced off the back heel of Charleston defender John Wilson. Hudock was forced to make a diving save to end the threat.

The Dynamo tied the game just before the end of regulation time on Steve Wondolowski's header in the 89th minute. Substitute Johnny Alcaraz served the ball into the six-yard box to Caraccio, who headed the ball down to the younger Wondolowski brother, and his header just beat Hudock for the score.

Reda was issued a red card in the 102nd minute, leaving the Battery with just nine players for the final 18 minutes of overtime, but it did not hurt them in the shootout, with Cameron shooting high and Hudock saving Caraccio's shot to send Charleston to the quarterfinals.